Houston has raced up a list of the best travel destinations in the U.S., jumping 13 places in just one year in a ranking of the top 25 best cities.

The TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice website brings together its data from customer reviews and ratings over the past year to create the list. In 2013, Houston was 25th and barely made the list. This year, it is all the way up in the dizzying heights of No. 12.

The year proved to be a success for Texas and the South in general. San Antonio went up one spot to No. 16. Austin, new to the list, came in at No. 18. Just up the Gulf, New Orleans went from No. 10 to No. 5.

The list of top-rated U.S. destinations again put New York at No. 1 with its 11,000-plus listed restaurants and 2,600 attractions, followed by Chicago, San Francisco and Las Vegas.

This year, Miami Beach tumbled 13 places to take the bottom spot.

Houston's rise follows its success in many areas. The city's growth rate led to placement on a list of "super cities" based on economic success. Houston has also placed highly in rankings for best places for young families and best places for graduates to get jobs.

While the Bayou City usually does well in economic rankings, quality of life does lag behind, with a ranking of just 60th in a recent study on well being.

TripAdvisor also notes some of its drawbacks, describing Houston as a "a sprawling city with many attractions; you will spend some time in the car getting from place to place."

TripAdvisor's top-rated attractions in the city are the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Houston Museum of Natural Science and Houston Museum District.

Heading its list of best restaurants is Japanese offering Uchi, from James Beard award-winning chef Tyson Cole, followed by Chama Gaucha Brazillian Steak House and its neighbor Pappas Bros. Steakhouse.

The international winner was Istanbul, jumping to the top spot from 12th, followed by Rome and London before the first American destination, New York, appears at 12th.